The Prime Minister of Trinidad and Tobago, Kamla Persad- Bissessar, is once again expressing concern and calling for a full explanation of the reappointment of the CARICOM Secretary General, Dr. Carla Barnett, saying the issue must be fully addressed.

The Government of Trinidad and Tobago has rejected Dr. Barnett’s reappointment.

In a statement overnight, Persad-Bissessar said while her country remains committed to CARICOM, her Government will not continue to contribute to CARICOM unless the issue is transparently addressed.

Bissessar said the appointment of Dr. Barnett for another five years has direct ramifications for her country, signalling her dissatisfaction with Dr. Barnett’s first term.

“This is not a simple run-of-the-mill administrative appointment; it’s an appointment with long-term ramifications for my citizens. It’s an appointment that directly affects the future over the coming five years of Trinidad and Tobago’s economy, security, integration, and foreign affairs. Therefore, in the interest of my citizens wellbeing I will mercilessly, relentlessly, and if needed, ruthlessly publicly prosecute this matter until transparency is achieved,” Ms. Persad- Bissessar noted.

Bissessar described the process used to reappoint Dr. Barnett as surreptitious and odious and wants answers on how that process was done and what factors were used to measure Dr. Barnett’s successes.

Trinidad has since written to CARICOM Chariman, Prime Minister of St. Kitts and Nevis,Dr. Terrence Drew formally placing its objection to the re-appointment of Dr. Carla Barnett as Secretary-General of CARICOM on record.

“Our concern is straightforward: the proposed re-appointment was not included on the provisional agenda for the Fiftieth Regular Meeting of the Conference of Heads of Government in St. Kitts and Nevis, was not considered during plenary, and was reportedly addressed only during the Heads of Government Retreat, (boat ride to Nevis) from which Trinidad and Tobago and other Member States were excluded through their authorised representatives. This raises serious concerns to the use of improper procedures to circumvent the process and facilitate Barnett’s reappointment,” Ms Bissessar said.

Trinidad and Tobago is maintaining that the re-appointment was not undertaken in accordance with Article 24 of the Revised Treaty of Chaguaramas, which requires formal consideration and appointment by the Conference.

Persad- Bissessar said it received no response to her government’s many clarifications.

Persad-Bissessar and her government were upset over CARICOM’s perceived silence last year and its position of “Zone of peace” when the US was inching into Caribbean waters with war machines.

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